Just Checking In!

Hi, everyone!

I hope you are all doing well.  I'm finally getting out of my funk, it seems.  With my recent health issues, moving, my daughter starting her first year of school, and well, just LIFE, I feel like I've been neglecting Flip Flop Reviews a bit.  It hasn't been intentional, I've just either been very busy, or not feeling well. 

However, I love writing and reviewing for Flip Flop, so that just won't do!  I've been around and posting here and there, but not with the frequency that we had last year, so I'm hoping to get back into the swing of reviewing more products for you all, more often.  Hoping for some great giveaways, too!  What do you think?  Are there any products or companies that you'd like to see reviews and/or giveaways for?  I have a couple coming up, I keep a list in our sidebar over on the left.  Laura Mercier, Foundation, KM Fantasy Massage Oil Candles, Simple Green, Soap & Paper Factory, Sue Devitt's Eye Intensifier Pencil, and I just received my review copy of The Book of Lost Fragrances this week I'm in the middle of reading that so I can let you all know what I thought.  So far, so good!
I'm currently working on the new house, and that's taking up a lot my time lately.  I'm doing a lot of painting, decorating and fixing/restoring furniture.  I can't decide exactly what I want for my living room!  So far, I've got beige walls, brown couches, and dark brown furniture (painting it, to use what I have and make it work!).  I can't decide on accent colors.  Right now I have a lot of burgundy...but I think I might try white, cream, blue, green, and maybe some yellow?  What do you think?  Do you have any suggestions?
I'd love to work on some home decorating and accent reviews, and I will be sure to post pictures of my progress too!  I just finished my oldest daughter's room, aside from a few small details.  It's super pink!  She's my little girly-girl.  I'm working on my youngest daughter's room as well, but still need to paint it.  She picked out a purple/lilac paint.  So pretty.

 
I'd also like to work on some reviews for Must Have Vacation products and apparel!  We're planning a VERY exciting and MAGICAL vacation this Summer and I'm SO excited! 

Cuddle Barn Storytime Teddy Review & Giveaway!

Hi, everyone!  I hope you're all having a wonderful December.  I'm sorry I have been so scarce lately, we've had a lot going on these past few weeks/months.  Health issues for one thing.  I don't really want to go in to everything on that end right now, but I've been needing to rest a lot and not spend so much time on the computer.  The other big thing that's been keeping me so busy, is that we finally bought our (hopefully!) forever home!  I absolutely love it an I'll be sure to share some pictures as I finish unpacking and work on decorating. We have over 1,000 more square feet than we had in our previous home and it's marvelous.  I'm trying to work through my health issues and get as much as I can done before Christmas so we can host our family Christmas dinner. 

So, speaking of the holidays and decorating for Christmas, I wanted to share with you an absolutely adorable product I recieved a few weeks ago from Cuddle Barn and Mom Select.  Cuddle Barn makes so many wonderful children's toys, and I was super excited for the opportunity because I just knew my girls would love it.  I was sent the Storytime Teddie, which retails for $29.99.  Teddie is such a special treat for children of all ages.  This 12" tall bear is soft and cuddly, and can be used for play or for Christmas decor.  I had Teddie in our entry way on a table, but my children enjoy him so much that I keep finding him all over the house.  I don't mind at all, he's very sturdy.  What makes Teddie so special, aside from the fantastic quality and soft cuddly appearance, is that when you press his paw, he recites The Night Before Christmas.  His head and body moves, and his mouth opens and closes as he reads the story, and it's just so magical for young children to be able to listen to this classic Christmas poem read by Storytime Teddie.

See, how cute is this bear?!  Not at ALL too loud or annyoing like some of these type of toys/decorations can be.  We have had several that we've had to hide because they're just insanely loud (and the grandparents who bought them for our children were snickering as they gave them to us, I'm SURE!  haha!).  You won't have that problem with this bear, he's loud enough to be heard, but reads in a soft and soothing tone, and is accompanied by light music. 

If you'd like to purchase one for yourself, be sure to use code BSM2011 to save 15% off your order at the Cuddle Barn Online Store!  Plus, keep reading for a giveaway!

Storytime Teddie takes just three AA batteries, which were already included in our bear.  You will need a screwdriver to replace the batteries, but I will say that as much as my children have carried Teddie around and listened to him retell The Night Before Christmas, we've not yet had to even think about replacing the batteries.  Teddie wears a super soft, neutral colored hoodie so he's perfect for everyone.  I love that my children listen to this bear read the poem so often, because I remember having to memorize this poem in school when I was in the fouth grade, so I feel like it's giving them a little head start in memorizing it themselves should that be something that's required of them in school, and in my opinion it's just a really great story to know anyway.  Last year I tracked down my favorite (out of print) copy of The Night Before Christmas, because I wanted to be sure to create the tradition of reading it on Christmas Eve every year.  My girls will take out the book and look at the pictures and read along with Teddie.  It's absolutely adorable.  I do have some video to share with you all, and I will update this to include it as soon as possible.  With the move, my camera cord seems to have decided to take a vacation.  Hopefully he returns soon, haha.  I think this bear would make an awesome gift for any child this Christmas.

One lucky reader, will win a Storytime Teddie by Cuddle Barn!  Woohoo!

US only.

Mandatory Entry:

Tell me one of your favorite holiday traditions.

Extra Entries:

-Like Cuddle Barn on Facebook.

-Tweet the following and leave me the link to your tweet.

I just entered to win a #CuddleBarn #StorytimeTeddie @FlipFlopReviews! Enter here: http://www.flipflopreviews.blogspot.com

-Follow Flip Flop Reviews (publicly) on Google Friend Connect. If you already follow us, great, let us know.

-Like Flip Flop Reviews on Facebook.

-Follow Flip Flop Reviews with Networked Blogs. (check the sidebar)

-Follow Flip Flop Reviews on Twitter @FlipFlopReviews.

-Blog about this giveaway and leave the link in a comment.

-Leave a relevant comment on another blog post here at Flip Flop Reviews.

-Enter one of our other current giveaways and let me know which one you entered. (Feel free to leave one comment for each giveaway entered)

This giveaway will end on 12/16/2011 at 8pm EST. Any entries after that will not count. Please make sure that you leave an email address or some way to contact you in your comments. If we can't figure out how to get in touch with you, you can't win! :o) Good luck! 

*I received one or more of the products mentioned above for the purposes of this review through the above mentioned company or representing PR agency. In the event of a giveaway, the prize is shipped by the sponsor and I hold no responsibility. Thank you for reading!

Poll and Suggestions

I've added a poll to the sidebar, and I'd love to know what you think!  :o)


Also, I'd love to know what you'd like to see more of as far as reviews and giveaways go.  We are very open to suggestions.  Leave a comment here and tell us what you'd like to see!


& 

Hi everyone!

I just wanted to pop in for a second and let you all know I am running a bit behind with everything right now.  I know I have a few winners to pick for the giveaways that ended this week and as always, lots of great products to tell you all about! :o)  I've been sick this week (kidney infection...oh my, not fun at all!) and haven't really felt up to being on the desktop computer much (I don't blog from my laptop usually).  I heard blogger has been down quite a bit this week too, so maybe it's a good thing I haven't been on much. 

I am thankfully on the mend now (though still a bit tired) and Flip Flop Reviews should be good to go soon! 

Advertise / Reviews/ Giveaways / Contact

If you have a great product or business, we would love to feature you here at Flip Flop Reviews!

If you are interested in working with Danielle, or Jedea for a review, giveaway, or sponsored post, please feel free to contact one or both of us depending on who you would like to work with. 

At Flip Flop Reviews we offer a unique twist in that we are a mother-daughter team and we can do reviews several ways, you can send product for each of us to review and we can work jointly on a post that expresses both of our views, or choose who you think would be a better fit.

A little about us:

Danielle is 27 years old, married (28 year old firefighter), and the mother of two girls, ages 4 and 5.  We have a three year old cat named Jack, and a one year old black lab named Ciara.  Danielle can be reached at DanielleCorrelle@aol.com

Jedea is 45 years old, married, the mother of three (two sons at home, ages 23 and 17) and of course grandmother to Danielle's two adorable little girls.  Can review products for cats as well.  Jedea@aol.com

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-I select giveaway winners using Random.org.  I post a screen shot of the winning comment and the number selected at Random.org.  I will notify winners by email and they have 72 hours to respond.  If there is no response, I select a new winner.  When I hear from the winner with confirmation and shipping address, I will give you their shipping information for prize fulfillment.

-The main entry for the giveaway is usually asking the reader to visit your site and comment with their favorite product.

-Readers will be asked to like your Facebook page, follow on Twitter, etc. for extra entries in to the giveaway.

-Please feel free to let me know if there are any entry requirements you would like to discuss. 

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-Please email who you would like to work with (DanielleCorrelle@aol.com, or Jedea@aol.com) with details of your offer.  We will either make a counter offer, or accept (we also reserve the right to decline). 

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